April is a promise that May is bound to keep. ~Hal Borland
I certainly hope that May is going to keep that promise, spring is everywhere in April. The leaves are budding, the birds are singing. And the temperatures are dropping…again.
We have had more then a few nights of frost.
How about you? Are spring promises being kept?
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
It’s asparagus time, and this is our very first year of being here when they start picking at my Sister’s farm in Armstrong. You can read her blog here, Okanagan Asparagus Farm.
Delicate green spears pushing through what was frozen earth just a few weeks ago, give way to strong verdant towers of tender, delicious asparagus.
We picked some up today, and I used it in a photo shoot for her blog, and for their advertising program, and then…well someone had to taste test it didn’t they?
Oh my, any way you make it, farm fresh, is the absolute best.
If you can find some locally grown near where you live, make sure to pick some up, it it so much better then anything you will buy in the store.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
I went for a ride on my [Birthday] bike last night, …. oh yes did I mention that’s it’s my 50th birthday present? Biking for bliss, and hopefully losing a few at the same time, I keep telling myself that it’s my birthday present to myself, to get a little more in shape, and keep moving. Feeling a little more in control each time I take that bike out on the road, even if the helmet itches. And I managed a full turn to the left, shoulder check when I turned into a side street, no mean feat for someone with a very stiff neck last week.
So how’s your personal keep it moving challenge going? Have you been getting up and moving, doing, shaking it baby? Dancing in the sunlight, riding that bike, raking the lawn? I know that I have, and although I feel achy breaky, lol, I do feel better.
I feel really good about doing this, and I thank all of you that are leaving comments saying that you are doing it also. We rock! Like we really ROCK! Yes we do!
Now onwards, and upwards, get out there and move it, let us know how you are doing.
Oh, and PS, in case you wondered, or you are new to this blog, that’s not my bike, it’s a cute old one I took pics of.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
I have found something that is even more addictive then Pinterest. What? I can hear all you pinners out there saying in disbelief, that’s impossible.
But it is possible, and it takes nothing more then a simple long handled weed puller, and a lawn full of dandelions. The urge to purge that lawn of weeds is overwhelmingly strong. Just think how easy this is, you start by pushing in the prongs set on the bottom of the weeder into the dandelion, pull back, and voila, with a gentle plunk, the weed is out. Discard it, and repeat…oh about a hundred times.
The next thing you know, the lawn is littered with more dead weeds then a dozen of chocolate chip cookies have chips, and hours have passed by. You don’t have to stop there, it’s always just one more weed, and then it’s just one more weed… Your wrists hurt, the cat is starving, and it’s getting dark, but you repeat, just one more weed…just one more weed.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
These are not photos of Dandelions, but of Balsam, the closest thing I had to show you.
We sit on the edge of the deck and gently sway to the music coming from next door, it’s a collection of show tunes, and Lawrence Welk era music, but it sounds so much better when it’s live. We were serenaded by our elderly neighbour with a impromptu concert under the tree tops today as he sat outdoors on his deck.
My body aches to the beat of the keyboarded music, but it’s a good ache. A pain that says, job well done.
So, here’s my little confession, I have been making garden beds all month, and I told you that I wouldn’t be doing that until next spring.
The arrival of the plants from the coast kind of moved things along a lot faster then I had anticipated. But the realization that we couldn’t leave them in their containers all summer because of the over heated temperatures we will endure made us move forward.
It all started with 9 paving blocks, rectangle shaped, flat grey cement, off kilter, and layered directly into the grass just off of our back deck. Kind leftovers from the previous owners, that drove me nuts all winter. I watched the snow slowly recede from them inch by inch, and I planned, and schemed how to make them go further with less dollars. Priced at $10.00 each, the amount I needed to make a decent sized patio would take more then it’s fair share from my garden budget.
And where to put the plants that we had brought up? Mostly shade plants, ferns, bleeding hearts, hosta galore the area next to the deck was fairly shaded. So we built a simple bed, and one thing led to another, and the next thing we knew we were pulling up the paving blocks and laying them properly.
It was a lot of work, they were extremely heavy, the ground was uneven, it was so cold some mornings when we started, the ground had frost on it, other afternoons it was so hot, we fried. The blocks were spaced out evenly, and fine gravel fills the spaces in between them, it’s economical, and looks wonderful.
After we finished the shade bed, and re-laid the paving blocks we needed to find a place to plant my Gingko, and maple trees. So we edged the ground level patio we had just made with another garden bed, and planted the trees in that. There are plans in the works for some screening to grow vines on, and create a little more privacy.
I don’t have any really good pics, the beds are still a work in progress, and as you can see many of the plants have barely broken the surface of the soil. But as soon as there is something to show, I will share.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
Oh, I am in trouble, big, deep trouble…. I thought I had the problem licked, but it seems it has just gotten worse. When I go to a nursery it’s as if I am looking around and saying, “I’ll take one of everything,” in fact make that multiples of everything please.
I was too smug, thought I had gotten the spring fever out of my system after buying loads of plants. They were hanging out on our front porch because we are still getting unpredictable shots of frost at night. And I thought that somehow I had managed to fill that internal quota and need for more plants that spring keeps upping.
And then I was shopping in the almost big city with my Sister, and being a little smug, “oh see how controlled I am, watch me not buy too much” and it hit me. I now have a yard, yes fellow gardeners A YARD. And we all know what that means, more plants.
Where before I had to hold my self back, [to just over 200 containers at one time] now I have a yard, and more room, real dirt, real garden beds, and unlimited imagination. Just think, forsythia, lilac, fruit trees, berries, shrubs, evergreens we can fit them all in. Summer bulbs, check, veggies, check, herbs, check, fall flowering shrubs, check, spring flowering shrubs, check, winter interest shrubs, check…oh my…I am in deep trouble.
But who cares, I’ll take one of everything.
And I have a little confession to make, but that’s for another day.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
A body at rest tends to stay at rest, Newton’s laws of motion, and a body eating potato chips all day isn’t going to get up and move. I love that so many of you like the idea of the “keep it moving personal challenge.” So just keep it moving, getting up for a good walk, gardening, and raking the lawn will work just as well.
Today I danced with the Boo in the sunshine to a ELO CD…gotta love that music. I am sure any neighbours that could see in must have thought I had totally lost it, but hey, dance like no one is watching right? Let’s keep supporting each other, and together we can keep it moving. Check in is in a month….
Then we went to our new community garden and raked up all the old branches from a fallen tree. We have sun here, it goes all the way around the house, but as of right now, only the front yard is landscaped, and there is a tiny veggie bed in the back. The ground, being on the side of a mountain, is very gravelly, and we will have to truck in soil to make beds. So for now we are using a garden bed at my Sister’s farm. Full sun, beautiful sandy soil, and unlimited sun.
I am jokingly calling it the sharecropping, or community garden, since there are 3 families involved. Looking forward to seeing the tomatoes, and the zucchini growing out of my ears.
Can’t wait for those first baby potatoes, peas, and carrots of the season. And this hot weather we get up here will grow some awesome basil.
Yesterday at the garage sales I found some great vintage linens, a luncheon cloth, and white linen table cloths for only a $1 each. I am thinking some white ruffled pillows on the deck would be perfect. Or maybe I will finally get that ruffled shower curtain made that I have been craving.
Didn’t get to make any new friends, but you will have to read a few back posts to get that joke.
Happy Sunday!
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
So are you up to a little challenge, there was such great support over my getting the bike, everyone is saying go for it! That I thought wouldn't it be wonderful if we all supported each other, a kind of I’ll do it, if you’ll do it challenge. Exercise that it, any kind, just get out there and do some. Leave a comment saying what you did, or plan on doing to get yourself moving…we can do this. I challenge you to move yourself a little more, and at the end of next month, lets see how we do. After all, we don’t want to end up like this heap above….
I had a pretty busy day yesterday, running around, doing some gardening, and a really good bike ride in the setting sun, after I came back more gardening as the sun went down.
So I thought hey, why can’t we support each other, just kind of let each other know, that we are moving ourselves, and yes, others can do it also. I will organize something that we can leave comments on, just give me a day or so…until then leave a comment on my blog.
Things are busy around here, seems like we are always coming and going, but this morning I am going “garage sailing” with my Mom. It’s not something I enjoy doing, but hey, time with my Mom is time with my Mom….
Wonder how many new friends I am going to make today, LOL.
So let me know if you are up to the challenge.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
I am literally heartbroken, over the little bird laying on the soil outside my window. Some wouldn’t care, others might not bother, but it makes me cry. So small, so still, it doesn’t look like this one will make it this time…it’s wings are folded close to it’s body, and it has stopped shuddering.
Since last week we have had at least a bird a day hit this window, it’s shocking, worrisome and I feel as if despite all of my efforts to remain a green gardener I am decimating the bird population around my house.
That’s the birds that I know about at least, who knows how many have lain there in shock, all the ones we saw hit the window have flown away, this one I am not so sure of.
A Google search explains that the birds might think our large window is a portal to freedom, a escape from the crows. The startling noise, the bang, the actual force as the bird hits the window is large. I am reading that the bird feeder should either be closer or farther away from the window. I don’t know that it will help, the birds, they still feed near the window, from the plants.
We do have a bird feeder, and have moved it even further away, we love the birds, but I won’t be the one responsible for them dying in my yard.
We will search out those glaring window decals that might save a life, it’s worth it. I can’t stand the bang, the thump, the fall…anymore. I am considering putting painters tape up on the window, or a garden netting something to stop this carnage. I have also heard that a owl or a hawk sticker will work.
If you have any suggestions that work, please let me know.
Heartbroken.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
Oh, my Mom, I love her dearly, sometimes more then other times…if you knew my Mom… You know how they always say you must love family unconditionally, [well that’s what my parents have always told us..lol.] Now I know why.
She is getting older, and her filters are getting a little clogged, at first I thought it was just my family, but reading the comments from the other days post “she said what?” I am finally beginning to realize that I am not alone.
Please let me digress for a moment, you have got to read this comment left by Darla on that post…”Well my sister in law said to her Grandmother that she felt fat and ugly. Her Grandmother's reply was, you aren't fat.” Oh what a zinger….oh how bad…
We took my parents to a Dr.s appointment in the almost big city the other day, and they took us out for lunch. We were sitting in a crowed restaurant and my Mom kept peering over her shoulder at a couple of women with children running around, sitting next to us.
This is not new behaviour for her, we have learned to pretend it doesn’t happen, and after all how low can you cringe in a fast food restaurant seat? My Mom tends to say things in a less then quiet voice, and if you mention that she can be overheard, she will say something charming like “what, they can’t hear me.” And I see I am not alone, quite a few other readers have the same parental issues.
Then out of the blue, my Mom leans over to the woman at the next table, and tells her that she knows her, and has seen her around lately. Then my Mom turns to me and says “she lives in the same mountain side subdivision that you do.”
Awkward silence while the stranger and I eye each other up. “um hi?” “ah….hi.”
“So you live in the mountainside subdivision?” “Um, yes, we just moved there.” The stranger says “we live on whatchamacall it street.” Me, “oh…we live one street over.”
Where is the lightning bolt to strike you down when you need it…I feel like I am 6 years old again and being introduced to someone I am to shy to say hello to, and my Mom is behind me pushing me forward.
The conversation draws to a even more awkward close, while the stranger and I pretend that our hamburgers are the most interesting thing we have seen in a decade.
Her job done, my Mom tucks into her fries with gusto.
Then she turns to me and says, “See! That’s how you make friends.”
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
Otherwise entitled: Excuses, and good ones at that.
So the big wheels of the bike aren’t turning quite as much as they should be right now. I was so enthusiastic about getting the bike. Could picture myself wheeling freely down the road, hair blowing in the wind, what hair there is sticking out of the helmet. But the excuses come later, just wait.
What’s with those helmets? I know, it’s not fun to have your head cracked open like humpty dumpty, but if you are a woman of a certain age, you grew up without them. I can’t believe that our parents let us go out of the house on oversized rickety bikes, with no protection. And most likely faulty brakes, you need to be around 50 ish to understand me, it was a different world.
We would whizz down huge hills hands free, looking back and flinging comments at the riders we had left behind, hardly recognizing that the gravelled road was shared with larger vehicles. We had a healthy respect for cars, it’s just that we were young, and … kids.
Do you remember your first really good wipe out, yes, the one where you went sliding through the gravel on the top of the paved road, and most likely only stopped after a good chunk of skin was removed. But you got up, limped the entire way home, and held back those tears until you slipped through the door.
Did your Mom wash your poor ragged elbows with scalding water, and Epsom Salts, oh that is a torture I can still remember today. Knee pads, helmets, caution, that is something that our generation’s had to learn the hard way. Neighbourhood father’s teaching their kids to ride, hanging on to the back seat until the wobbly rider managed to stay afloat for seconds. It was the origin of tough love, fall down, and get back up on that bike, the bandages comes later.
Now for the excuses:
I have hurt my neck somehow, rather painfully, and can’t turn my head, it’s freezing cold outside, and it rains a lot. It’s all conspiring against my getting some exercise. The bike was for a few days, winning big time, forgot to take off the 400 page manual on the spokes and looked like a dork, the warning stickers worry me. I had to sign a waiver just to get out the door of the store, what’s with that? It’s wobbly, and it’s seemed I had lost my center of balance. The helmet makes my head itch, and it keeps choking me under the chin.
At first I thought I had made a rather big mistake, my arms hurt, my shoulders hurt, my wrists hurt from leaning over, and this was called a comfort bike. But I did some research, I am very tall, and this is the biggest size frame, I need to get a extension for the handlebars so I don’t lean so far forward, my pants have been untangled from the chain, and the grease might come out. And the wobbliness is going away, if I lean back a little.
Persevere Jen, it will warm up, the sun will come out, and the wobbly ride will straighten out.
Now I want to hear all about your wipe outs, after all, misery loves company.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
I was in a pretty bad [grinning] mood this morning and I just couldn’t get a handle on the approach to this blog post I wanted to write. See I am a formerly skinny girl, and now I am a slightly lumpy woman…”life, it adds weight.” That’s my new motto, LOL. Add in someone mentioning that I have gained weight, when all along I was in denial, well funky mood time.
But reality bites, and I am no longer in a funk, thanks to airing out the house, getting rid of the negativity, and just determining to be happier. If I have put some weight on, then so be it. We have been super busy with moving in and getting organized, and looking after my parents, and I neglected my exercising…thinking my formerly skinny genes would take care of everything.
I understand that’s the way life goes, and the doughnuts may have had something to do with it..they make the best cakes and doughnuts up here. I love to bake, I love to cook, I love to eat, and that makes a recipe for…
A new bike.
This is my thought, in order for me to be able to eat the foods I love, I need to exercise properly. We are planning on getting a elliptical trainer downstairs in the fall, that will be good for the winter months that seem to stretch on forever.
But for now the bike seems to be the answer. It’s just that a few things need to be fine tuned in that department. Namely me.
It’s been a long, long time since I have been on a bike, and a few things have changed since then. I’ll let you know about them tomorrow.
Until then, big wheels keep on turning…skinny former girl keeps on burning…
Calories she hopes.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
